The English National Cross Country Championships at Nottingham on Saturday is the pinnacle of the winter races for most club runners.
The two senior races for men and women have attracted 2,882 and 1,243 entries respectively.
Sunderland Harriers are among the entries and use the event as part of the club cross country grand prix.
It is the biggest points scorer from all the events included in the grand prix, and the winners may be decided before the final race a week on Saturday.
This will be at the North Eastern Harrier League at Alnwick which concludes the Harrier League season.
It was at the last Harrier League meeting at Thornley Hall Farm, on a swamp of a course on the February 11, which saw a dramatic change to the grand prix leader board.
Long time grand prix leader Rachael Moore came stuck in the clinging mud and lost her shoe. With her shoes having being taped onto her feet, she found it too difficult to put it back on.
She had no option but to drop out of the race and lose the points that would have seen her keep her position at the top of table.
Now she has dropped down to fourth, three points behind the new leader Ian Dixon.
With five prizes to be awarded, there are nine athletes still in with a chance of picking up an award.
They are with their points score: Ian Dixon 36 points, Paul Redman 35, Vicky Younger 35, Rachael Moore 33, Karl Robinson 30, Alice Smith 27, Jason Waite 26, Colleen Compson 25, Nicola Woodward 23 and Chris Bell 22.
Jason Waite is back competing after being beset by injury problems. The 23-year-old is gradually getting back on track and making up for lost time.
He is just back from Dubai where he competed in his first half marathon.
He finished 39th and sixth British man in 1hr 20min 28sec in the Rak Half Marathon.